Should you get tired of North Kent’s seaside resorts, there are numerous nature reserves, country parks and other attractions on the coast and inland. Even simply driving around the area brings its own rewards: you will see some of the most delightful countryside and views to be found in the UK. Many of the oast houses of yesteryear have been converted into modern homes, but nevertheless, just driving past them or seeing them over the fields conjures up an image of the days when hop-picking was the holiday pastime of many Londoners.

1 Oare Marshes Local Nature Reserve
Oare Marshes Local Nature Reserve lies on the banks of the Swale Sea Channel, just over a mile from Oare village. The reserve was reclaimed from salt marshes and is now a network of dykes holding back fresh and brackish waters that are home to a wide variety of birds and plant life. You are restricted to a public footpath and a nature trail with strategically placed viewing hides. However, there are good views of the birds from the road, making the reserve suitable for anyone restricted to a wheelchair or confined to their car. Depending on the time of year, you are likely to see little stints, bearded tits, ospreys, wigeons, curlews, barn owls and marsh harriers. In recent years, avocets have started to breed here.

2 Farming World
Farming World at Nash Court is certainly worth at least a half-day visit. It is a working farm with attractions for everyone from the youngest to the oldest of visitors. Animals, craft workshops, farm and lawnmower museums, a sensory garden, falconry centre, farm trails, and a superb children’s adventure playground all ensure there is plenty for everyone. In the stables you will find awesome Shire and Clydesdale heavy horses, which are still used in ploughing demonstrations and farm cart rides on selected weekends and bank holidays. You will also see Shetland ponies, various breeds of pig, sheep and cattle, and llama-like alpacas. The birds of prey centre has owls, hawks, eagles and even vultures. On selected days there are falconry displays. Dogs are not permitted at Farming World, not even when they are on a lead, unless they are guide dogs.

3 Sandhurst Farm Forge
When the motorcar and tractor replaced the horse, the traditional blacksmith’s forge went into decline. Happily, however, there are still a few working forges left across the country, and one such is at Sandhurst Farm, Newnham. The blacksmith, Charles Dickinson, has been in the business for over 25 years. He was an agricultural blacksmith and farrier, originally, meaning he shod horses, but he now specialises in making decorative items such as firegrates, candlesticks and wine racks. The glow from the red hot forge when he’s working the wrought iron brings alive for the visitor a trade that has almost ceased to exist.

4 Diggerland
What a great day out for the kids: drive your own dumper truck and dig your own hole with a JCB! This site has an extensive range of dumper trucks, excavators, and mini and giant JCB diggers. Visitors can ride, drive and operate these under the guidance and supervision of the resident instructors. Even the under-fives are allowed to ride, although they do have to sit on mum’s or dad’s lap. The on-site facilities include a snack bar and shop selling everything that any wannabe Bob the Builder could possibly need. In fact, Diggerland brings a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘buckets of fun for everyone’. Diggerland is not far from Junction 2 of the M2 at Strood, and it is open to the public at weekends, bank holidays and every day in the school holidays from 10am to 5pm.

5 Reculver Towers
Reculver was one of the forts the Romans built to protect this part of their British territory. The towers were part of the Augustine monastery, built in the seventh century. Unfortunately, centuries of coastal erosion have meant that most of the monastery has now fallen into the sea. The erosion process continues.
Interestingly, the two towers are not the originals but were built in the early 1800s when the lighthouse organisation Trinity House bought the site. It replaced the towers as they were still a very useful navigation aid to shipping. The towers are visible from the Margate-to-Herne Bay road – just as you pass Reculver Country Park, where over 150 species of bird can be seen.

6 Druidstone Park and Woodland
In addition to woodland walks there are animals to be seen at Druidstone Park, including chickens, goats, sheep, donkeys, ponies and llamas. There is also a pond that has black swans, geese and ducks. Additionally, sculptures by established and new artists are on display throughout the park. These exhibits are for sale, but at prices up to £10,000 they won’t sell too many on a day-to-day basis.
There is access for wheelchair users, a children’s adventure play area, under-cover picnic areas, shop, snack bar, and toilets. Dogs are not permitted, even on a lead, because of the animals in the park. You will find Druidstone Park and Woodland at Blean, about three miles south of Whitstable on the A290 Whitstable-to-Canterbury road.

7 The Apple Craft Centre
The Apple Craft Centre may have something of a peculiar name – but it also has a craft shop and restaurant, and a superb tool shop that we are sure must be heaven on earth for DIY enthusiasts. There is also an instrument shop specialising in banjos. But perhaps the most interesting establishment on the site is Macknades Fine Foods, which sells a whole range of unusual foods, preserves, fruits, vegetables, wines and breads. Outside Macknades is a stall that sells fresh fish, and every Saturday there is a farmers’ market on the site.